Posted on 02/28/2008 8:24:57 AM PST by Nachum
(IsraelNN.com) A total of 24 people are hospitalized, mostly for shock, following the firing of more than 30 rockets and mortar shells from Gaza on Israel on Thursday. Among them are two with shrapnel injuries.
Among the rockets and mortar shells fired from Gaza on Israel on Thursday, eight long-range Grad rockets hit the coastal city of Ashkelon. The city's 100,000-plus rocket-besieged residents were told just last night (Wednesday) by Defense Minister Ehud Barak that there was no need to change the city's deployment plans.
The Katyusha-like were fired in several waves in the mid-afternoon hours. Two rockets slammed directly into residential homes, and shock victims were treated at the sites. One rocket landed at the northern entrance to town, and marks the longest-range hit to date.
At the same time, five Kassam rockets were being fired at Sderot and the western Negev. A 70-year-old woman in Sderot suffered shrapnel wounds; she is listed in light condition in Barzilai Hospital. Two rockets scored a direct hit on a hothouse, and the Thai workers inside were just barely able to escape unharmed.
Later in the day, eight more Kassam rockets were fired into Israel; four of them landed north and east of Gaza, and four landed in Ashkelon.
Escalation in Barak's Statements and Threats Defense Minister Ehud Barak warns of an impending escalation. Following his recent comments that a "solution to the Kassams is closer than thought," Barak said on Wednesday afternoon, "A large ground offensive in Gaza is concrete and actual."
Speaking after a high-level security consultation in the shadow of the rocket attacks on Israel, Barak said, "The responsibility for the escalation lies with Hamas, and he will bear the consequences. We will reach those who are responsible and we will hit those who carry out the attacks."
IAF Attacks Palestinian Authority sources report that a Hamas terrorist was killed around 2:30 PM, and others were hurt, in an Israel Air Force attack. A total of 13 Gaza Arabs - among them several terrorists - were killed in various IAF counter-terrorism attacks today, including a particularly significant attack on a Hamas position adjacent to the home of Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, who is currently in hiding from Israel.
Thursday Morning Rockets Prior to the latest waves of Kassam and Grad rocket attacks, 16 Kassams and 8 mortar shells had been fired at the western Negev. One of the former caused injuries to a bodyguard of Public Security Minister Avi Dichter in Sapir College; the guard was checking the area prior to a visit by Dichter in Sderot.
Fire-fighting teams in Sderot were dealing early this afternoon with two fires caused by rocket hits - one in a factory in the industrial zone, and one that set several cars ablaze when a rocket slammed down alongside them.
National Fire Department Commissioner Shimon Romach instructed fire-fighting teams in central Israel to shore up the ranks of their counterparts in Ashkelon and Sderot.
Ashkelon's Mayor: We're Willing to Pay the Price Last night, following the landing of three powerful Grad rockets in Ashkelon, Mayor Roni Mahatzri talked with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. The two told Mahatzri that their position was that there was still no need to activate a "Color Red" early warning system in Ashkelon. "No change need be made in the city's deployment," Barak said.
Mahatzri held an emergency meeting last night with representatives of the army, police, fire fighters, and emergency services. "Until now," he said, "the firing on Ashkelon was sporadic, but now, for the first time, the rockets were fired in a purposeful manner. This was what was predicted for Ashkelon back in 2005, but we never actually experienced it until now."
Mayor Mahatzri said his city would be willing to pay a price in exchange for increased military pressure on the terrorists: "It is clear to us that the price for intensifying the Israeli pressure on the rocket launching cells is liable to bring Ashkelon into a state of alert and one in which we may have to absorb rocket fire. We are willing to pay this price for a limited time. We are aware of the fact that such a situation will require activating an early-warning system, and that the people of Ashkelon will have to pay the price for a military offensive in Gaza. Ashkelon is ready for this, and is able to deal with it."
Can’t wait for the IDF response...
Isn't that in Ohio?
I believe if the IDF responds then Hizbola(SP) in Lebanon will launch an attack on Israel. They will have a two fron war. Possibly three if Syria gets into the act.
two front war
I think he said something about "...if Ashkelon is bombed, you can call me Meyer." No, wait, that was Berlin and Hermann Goering. Minor error - sorry.
He ought to resign, followed a few seconds later by the dissolution of the government by Foolmert. Of course, that statement is predicated on either of them having any integrity, so it won't happen. Neither will much except bombing a few empty buildings.
Zechariah 9:5
Ashkelon will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron too, for her hope will wither. Gaza will lose her king and Ashkelon will be deserted.
No, you’re thinking of Cleveland, I’d say...
They're going to get that sometime soon ANYWAY. Better at a time of Israel's choosing than that of its enemies.
Does the IDF not have counter-battery radar?
This showdown has been 60 years in the making. The US has convinced the Israelis to sit on the sidelines for the last 15 years of so, and not respond to attacks with sufficient force to render the enemy incapable of furhter prosecuting the hostilities. Maybe it’s time to take of the gloves.
I believe if the IDF responds then Hizbola(SP) in Lebanon will launch an attack on Israel. They will have a two fron war.
Last time Hezbullah jumped in they got smacked. I think that while they still talk tough - their leadership knows that their standing in Lebanon suffered as other Lebanese are tired of paying for Hezzbullah's stupid ways. That said, nobody accused these yahoos of being smart, so yes -- they may jump in and get smacked again.
As an old artilleryman—where is the counterbattery fire against this rocketry?
Never mind iffen you don’t HIT too many of the guilty. If the Denizens knew that every rocket would get a “battery six” response (6 per gun from a battery of six guns), they they might respond with “not in my back yard” to the Muzzies.
Now, Israel?
The level of civilian casualties would be unacceptable, palestinian civilian casualties that is.
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Looks like the stage is set..
Hizbullah is armed and ready, the Gazoids are stepping it up..
Time for Olmert to cut bait or fish..
Yes, of course; it is primarily useful against a repeating target (although we are working on that as well).
These are basically very large bottle rockets (with a warhead). There is no infrastructure but a rod or a plastic (poly-vinyal chorlride).
At the moment of firing, the criminal scoot away.
Typicall they shoot from behind roofs of houses or the like of people they don’t like, stores, etc., so it is difficult to return fire non-ballistically.
From your fingers to G-d’s ears.
There are difficult political and practical reasons why the direct response cannot be easily utilized.
Spotting drones are helping greatly in this regard.
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